alright, alright i know it isnt the chinese new year, but come on,,, its dear daniel {like my dear daniel}. i had to!! have a happy new year and be safe!!!! ill see you next year,, {i know, i know, it just never gets old}!! hardy har,,,

~cheers~

Dr. Seuss:
You are you. Now, isn't that pleasant?
~cheers~

Dr. Seuss:
If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.
~peace~

hey. hey you. are you on facebook?? come be my friend. ill send you gifts because i love it. good idea?? i hope your weekend was wonderful. tomorrow, its back to normal, {which normal is what by the way??}. well, at least until new years eve/day. ill be back {tomorrow}.

i love you.

~xoxo~

alright, we can all say it,,, aahhhhhh,,,,,,,this feels nice. christmas was perfect and im pooped!! but very inspired. im very excited about the new year and change. my new year resolution is simple. back to basics. simplify. easy. enjoy. i love it already. i think that {sign} with the {i hate to say it} economy being as it is. change is necessary as of right now. i have to admit, im ready for change. back to my new year resolution, back to basics. how did most of us start scrapbooking?? most of us, it was that creative memories party. right?? layouts. we have progressed into detailed, elaborate layouts, mini albums, home decor projects and everything else. well, im ready to go back. to basics. i have been writing down a ton of ideas in my journal. it has been at my bedside and it has seen me writing at all hours of the night. im most inspired when im laying in bed at night. thinking. anyway. back to basics. i will now be teaming up with pink pineapple and teaching a layout class!! so excited. because i am so inspired by music, each layout will be geared of focused on song lyrics or song titles. these layouts will be fun, inspiring and in a series format. i will teach one a month. again, as we moved forward into the new year, we need to remember all that is important to US. what is our therapy?? i dont know about you, but i do need time for myself. scrapbooking has always been a perfect answer my my therapy and my love for my family. i am away, scrapping {or even here at home}, but i am always starting at the faces of my loved ones in my photos. and i love that. now. will i still be doing mini albums?? yes. probably. but defiantly not as often and not as many kits will be available. these will now be offered in a more exclusive matter. either via class, or via my etsy shop. while i am at it, i might as well inform you of {another one of} my newest creations that will available in my etsy shop. i couldnt decide whether to go 12X12 layout or 8 1/2X11 {at pink},,, soooooo i will be offering my 8 1/2X11 layout kits in my shop. because i love structure, themes and constancy, my 8 1/2X11 layouts will be dr suess theme. he is one of my very favorites and i love his quotes, sayings and phrases. im am very excited and inspired by him. i will keep you {my faithful blog followers} updated as to when my shop will be updated and sneak peeks of course.
this is also very exciting; because we all have christmas {or which ever holiday you and your family celebrate}, fresh on our minds. {it was just yesterday}, think how amazing it would be to create a scrapbook album for a loved one. and have it all complete come next december. what im telling you is this; if you sign up for my layout class at pink, you will have the opportunity to purchase an additional kit at a discounted rate. create your album for yourself and create an extra for a gift. its a great idea. you will stay current on your next season of gift giving. you will still feel the love of scrapbooking. your gift receiver will love you forever. and ever. its a great idea, and im very excited to be a part of it. with out further adue,,,, my first layout class in the *get er done* series,,, *i love your smile*

a two page layout. i will be teaching it at pink pineapple sunday the 25th of january @ 2:00. excited. very excited. class will be $17.00 {good price huh??} and if you purchase more than one kit, each additional will be $15.00. call pink (760)598*2222.

all im trying to say is this. i want to {help elsie} take over the world and make it sooooo cute. thats it. this is my plan. i love it. and i love you.

~xoxo~

MERRY CHRISTMAS

~peace~

p.s. i love you!!!

new {or re-listed} goodies in my etsy shop nowwwww,,,,,
go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
~xoxo~

i dont mean to brag or anything, but my child can draw better than your child. too far?? maybe. sorry. thats just how moms think, right?? as of late, daniel had very much taken to art. drawing, painting, coloring. i love it!! it makes me so happy and i am finding new inspiration. in my own three year old son. we broke out the canvas again the other day and sofia even got to dabble around with the paint {foam} brush and her very own canvas. i love it. i dont know if youve noticed, but i have become quiet the collector of fine art. hee,,,,
this picture is the very best!! my mother in law was watching the kiddos the other day and i came into the *monkey room* as they like to call it, and i couldnt believe my eyes!! i know, i know spoken like a true mom, i guess this whole post is *spoken like a true mom*, but lets be honest here. I AM A REAL MOM!!! so are you surprised?? anyway, about my brilliant children { ;-D } daniel was drawing a face. a really good one at that, {remember im a mom}. so he kept drawing more and more and more and then finally he came out to his mama to show his final masterpiece...

tadahh,,,,,, i love it!!

arms} check

legs} check

eyes} check and check

nose} make that a check too

eyebrows} check

mouth} check

hair} nope, thats not hair on his forehead. remember this kid is wicked smart, he knows people dont have hair on their forehead. i asked him what it was {because i think the kid is smarter than me, and i totally thought it was hair}, but he said, "its an owie, like mine"!! hahaa!!! smart kid i tell ya!!!

alright, alright, im done. ill try {fingers are crossed behind the back} to not ever, ever brag about my amazing, adorable, wicked smart, rock star little children again. but i had to share this!!

~xoxo~

Edith Wharton:
If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time.
~peace~

i added rhinestones. because it needed it. right?? i like it a lot better now. the rest of the class information is listed right below.
gotta goooo,,,,

~cheers~

i really liked this new paper when i saw it at pink. sooooo,, i had to use it for my card class coming up. sunday, 11 january @ 2:00. come and spend a little bit of time on sunday with me and a group of fun ladies. together you we create five all occasion cards. my classes are always fun and well organized {ahem, if i do say so myself,, ahem, ahem,,,,}. you will be creating a few inspiring cards, *just a note* and *happy birthday*. perfect for everything useful!!!

please bring with you: pop dots, glue dote, paper trimmer, scissors, and a tape runner.
in case you never got the memo, i adore teaching card classes!! they are my very, very, very favorite type of class to teach... true story. its fun!!

alright, im off to tackle christmas shopping for the hubbs,,, {uggg,, he is sooo hard to shop for}. wish me luck!!!

i love you

~peace~

have you ever had that crazy dream, correction, nightmare where it is eight days before christmas and you still had to create two-hundred-and-fifty christmas cards?!?!?! its a scary one. i lived it. yesterday. some how, i pulled it off. of course i didnt do everything yesterday. a lot of the pieces were ready, but just not assembled. i put together two hundred and fifty cards yesterday. nuts. i feel so much better today, {mentally. physically, well im noticing that this post is actually hurting my hand, the right one specifically. it hurts a lot}. anyway. whatever. IM DONE!! heck yes!!
oh, *if i could escape* is now for sale in my etsy shoppie shop!!

oh, annnnd im kinda keeping a little side blog action. well, its not a bloggie blog, but its flickr. i love it. ive been updating other goodies there, go check it out. great, like i need another reason to be on the computer. would you believe me if i told you that three years ago {yes, three} i didnt even have an email address?!?!?! true story, not-a-one email address!! now i have one, two, three, four,,, no, i think five email addresses. why?? because im lame and i try to keep projects separate. like i need that many, but hey, they are free so it works, right?? dont be mad at me, ive never come across the problem where my user name was taken. nobody else in the world shares my name, so its okay.

annnddddd my card class samples are done!! they will be in the store tomorrow. hopefully,,, ahem,, ill post those tomorrow.

~cheers~

im pretty sure that by todays end my house will be, whats the term?? *gone with the wind*. the wind is howling like an hungry tiger in the back yard. the rain is slapping against the windows as if it, too is afraid of the wind and wants to be let inside. my childrens play house got tossed across the yard as if it was of no weight. and yes. i feel very poetic right now, thanks for asking. :-) heheee,,, alright, thats enough of my poetry, unless of course you want me to come to your local coffee house and read you more home written poetry as you sip your non-fat, no foam latte?? sure, you can book me!!!

really though, by todays end this kit will be up in my etsy shop.

take care of yourself!! be safe.

i have new news and exciting changes brewing in my head, mind and heart. i cant wait for the new year!!!

~peace~

Alan Cohen:
It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
~xoxo~

Albert Einstein:
The ideals which have lighted me on my way and time after time given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. . . . The ordinary objects of human endeavour -- property, outward success, luxury -- have always seemed to me contemptible.
~peace~

this was fun!!! although i have to admit, im not too sure if im good at give aways,,, i want everyone to get something!! i so, so, so appreciate you ladies coming out from behind your computers and introducing yourself. or for those of you whom i know, thanks for the continued support and love. thank you for reading my blog. i love all of you. please, lets not be strangers anymore. say hi every now and again. okay?? glad we had this talk. it looks as though nobody else is gonna play, so here we go,,,, i did go ahead and pick two. i was so excited,,, daniel went first,,,,

like my tight grip on his arm??? oops,,, mamas gotta get a picture bubba, sorry. :-D. then it was tinkerbells turn. this is how we roll on lazy days, dada might do the pig tails and sofia might just want to rock her tinkerbell costume. i love it.
ohhh, the winners???

Cassi said...
I've been reading your bog ever since I took a class of yours (acrylic album with aqua and white hambly) at Ever After...so no need to be shy. Thanks for all of your project pictures - they help get the ideas flowing.And I noticed that you said you like reggae. Have you tried Slightly Stoopid? They're a local band that's pretty great.

*****thanks cassi, and of course i remember you, i totally do. hows the puppy??*****

Robin said...
My name is Robin (I have always thought my name was GROSS and BORING). My fav band of ALL Time is dUrAN dUrAN. My favorite color is PiNk!!! Ally you RAWK!!!!!
*****i think your name is pretty*****

thanks so much ladies {again} for the support and encouragement. i love you!! robin and cassi, please send me your address so i can ship of your kits!!! xoxoallyserrato@aol.com. you won this kit. i hope you likey. thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,,,, i love you!!!

~xoxo~

giveaway, giveaway, giveaway, giveaway,,,,
im feeling a little shy about this, but i did promise i would do a giveaway. again, im shy. i scared that nobody will leave a comment, {well there are a select few loyal peps i know ill see}, but other than that.... eekkkkk,,,, im shy. but here i goooo,,, leave me your name and uhhhm,,, lets say,, your favorite color, {everybody always wants name and city}. im thinking that im not going to see too many peps with the same name,,, soooo name and favorite color will do,,, ohhh,, no, wait!! your name and your favorite artist {musician}. it could be just a singer, or a band or a group. whatevers. yes, name and favorite artist. thats it. you can still say your favorite color if you likey too. alright, thats that!! good luck. ill post the winner in a few,,, {minutes??? days?? hours???} just a few... thank you very much for reading my blog and for your support. i so appreciate it. promise. ohh,, and if i feel really good and i see names, maybe ill have daniel and sofia each pick a name,,, but i have to see names,,, oohhhh,,, and i forgot to mention that its a mini album kit that im giving away... for those of you that have yet to purchase a kit from me, its a good chance for you to see that my kits are pretty rad, {did i just say that out loud???} but, i am pretty proud of my kits though,,, okay, im out, for real, for reallll,,,
~loves~

Dr. Seuss:
“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”
~ciao~

monday night was another successful card class at pink pineapple. such a great groups of ladies!!! thank you all for spending the evening with me. how cute is nely?? really?? special, special thanks to this girly girl. she does what ever it takes to come to a class, and i sooooooooooooooo appreciate it girly!!! {xoxo}
just so you all know, my next card class at pink is sunday, 11 january {2009, whoa} at 2:00. i hope to see you all there!!!
~cheers~

hi, i added this kit to my etsy shop. i only have one. promise. :-D

p.s. im totally addicted to mosaics now!!! yay!!! okay, gotta goooooo,,,,

~cheers~

me: card class tomorrow,
you: tomorrow?!?!?!
me: YES tomorrow!!!
you: what time??
me: 6:00
you: but, but, but where??
me: oh no worries, its at pink pineapple
you: oh, pink pineapple, i love that store. its cute.
me: i totally agree, its really cute!!
you: is the class full??
me: no, you can still sign up, call 'em (760)598*2222
you: why are you just talking about it and just showing pictures??
me: well, the paper that i HAD to use didnt come in until friday. to be honest, i think sassafras didnt know how amazing everyone would find their *life at the pole* paper. its wicked.
you: ohhhh, i totally get it.
me: i knew you would.
you: okay, im gonna go sign up, right now!!
me: sweet. well, then ill see you tomorrow
you: im gonna go to sleep right now so tomorrow comes sooner
me: great idea

and thats how it went,,, sorta,,,

~xoxo~

just a quickie,,,, a pretty girly girl sent me an email with these images, and i had to share,,, amazing huhhhhh????? {hi friend} {xoxo}
~loves~

hi. im here. promise. i have been super busy. between our christmas card. christmas card orders. my card class this monday. *cleaning*. holiday shopping. oh my!!! not to mention, i should admit that i have spent quite some time checking in on you know whos etsy shoppie shop. i scored some amazing paintings. excited!! cleaning my scrap room {although a BIG ol' task} has been kinda cool. i came across a *few* kits that i dont have listed in my etsy shop. i will be putting those babies in there as soon as i can photograph them and put them up,,, probably sometime next week, but still kinda cool. i was also thinking that i actually might want to do a *give away*. i have never done one, so what the heck. i love, love seeing new people check in on my blog, i always wonder who {if anyone} is out there in blog land. therefore, maybe a little *free~be* action will bring you out from behind your computer. i wanna meet you!!! loves it. so there you have it. next week i have my card class at pink pineapple {760-598-2222}, i will do a give away, and update my etsy shop. oh, and before i forget, since he is DYING to see himself on the internet, may i introduce you to my *so called* blog stalker. ricas uncle alex. he is kinda a fan {arent you alex} and im sure hell be checking my blog in a few minutes, so there you go!! thanks for keeping tabs on my uncle alex {xoxo}. alright, sorry my blog is so quiet as of late. i dont mean too,,,,,next week, i will try to at least put up quotes again, seeing as those have been a task i cant even tackle!!!
~peace~

ummm,,, sorry. i might have a *little* something to do with this post. sorry. really. i am. but after reading all of these comments, {although i still feel bad}, inside I AM DYYYYYYYYYINGGGGG,,,,,,, is my post man here with my package{s} yet??? eeeeeeekkkk!!!!!!!!
~loves~

this is so lame, my dear, sweet, computer {for some reason} has decided NOT to obey my "rotate clockwise" or "rotate counter clockwise" commands. lame. sorry. i tried to only put in horizontal pictures, but two of them just werent. bummer dude. anyway, the weekend was kinda rad for two reasons. the first?? i got my wreck this journal in the mail. it came pretty quick!! i cant wait to start tearing this baby, dripping coffee on it, taking it in the shower with me {which i already did, not knowing that that was one of the instructions}. alright, so random side note, i often take books or phones with me in the shower. mainly because i am the ULTIMATE multi tasker, and i feel like while my long hair is getting wet and ready to shampoo, {you know before my hands are wet}, i feel like that is precious time that i could be doing *something*. lame, but whatever. i should really *try* to just enjoy a quiet shower, but i always have something on my mind,,,, anyway, where was i?? oh yeah, this wreck this journal. i cant wait to get started!!! i even joined the wreck this journal flickr group!! sweet.

sorry for the sideways picture. whatever.

the next reason this weekend was rad?? i gave daniel three paint choices, a canvas and a three paint brushes and let him go for it. im so proud of his little painting. it is sitting right next to me as i type. i adore it!! {ahem, did you notice my new header??, did you notice the bottom layer of my new header??} what can i say?? im a proud mama!! oh, and i did one for my etsy shop too!!! why not??

its okay, you can tilt your head to the side for better viewing purposes.
oh, and i thought of this thanksgiving morning, i havent done a piece of me in, like, forever!! while i was cooking, {slippers and apron and all}, i snapped a quick little piece of me!! i need to more of those....alright, its off to my scrap room. not to play, but to cleaaaannn,,, no fun, no fun at all!!!
~xoxo~